So I've been LOVING this season of Mad Men. While the show was on hiatus, the Ginger got all caught up so we've been enjoying this little Sunday ritual together...

Here's my mid-season reactions to all of our favorite characters...

Don and Megan

Gah, they're still just as sexy as every, but clearly growing apart. I don't think Megan has a clue that Don doesn't really take her seriously. He probably should, she's really very sweet and probably the bangin'est lady he's going to find.

Sylvia Next Door

WTF. I'm underwhelmed. Why is he so in to her? (But, can we discuss that she's Lindsay from Freaks and Geeks? Took me around four episodes to place her.)

Peggy

She's killing it at her new job. I'm really proud of her as a lady in the 60's crushing it professionally like she is. I think something's going to happen with her boss, but she's too much of a human to just grin and bear it like all the other cheaters on the show.

Betty Draper/Francis

She's honestly batshit and I can't get enough. Idk what she's thinking with that hair. Also, we need to get her slimmed down and back into fabulous outfits from the earlier seasons. Also, Henry Francis...snooze. I'm ready for her to do something real cray to mess up Don's world. She hasn't done that in a while.

Joan

Honestly, I just need more of her. She's so sassy, so hot and such a force in the office. So far her storylines have just been cleaning up all her crap from last season. I smell an accidental and booze-fueled rendezvous with Roger. Or at least I'm hoping for one.

Pete Campbell

He totally screwed the pooch and is actually derailing. I'm proud of Trudy for not taking his crap. He's such a whiney little baby at times. Have you noticed that they've made him look alot older this season? Love that attention to detail!

Other Dudes in the Office

Harry - kind of petulant, I'm expecting more meltdowns from him.

Stan - loveable stoner. Need more.

Ginsberg - Don should give him more credit.

Ken - What ever happened with his Sci Fi novels?

Dawn

She's an exciting and interesting new twist. I like how her and Ginsberg are bringing some socioeconomic diversity to the office. I hope they flesh her character out alot more. Perhaps a secret romance with someone at the firm?

Roger

I don't care who you are, Roger is the best person ever. So sexy, such a silver fox. Also, the wittiest-ly written character to boot. He's been way too much in the background for my taste.

All kinds of things have been happening in my little world but I'm back in action! Here's what I got into this weekend...

Single-Lady-Maiding

It's kind of like bridesmaid-ing, but way, way better. Saturday we had a lovely little brunch at one of my favorite place (Hillside Farmacy) to celebrate the single-ness and awesome-ness of one of my favorite buddies:

The lady of the day, sweet Heidi.

Bitches be brunchin', yo.

Honestly, there aren't enough punchbowls around these days.

Eeyore's Birthday Party

This is a bizarre Austin thing. It's a celebration of Eeyore -- yes, the sad donkey of Winnie the Pooh fame. I don't really know the full story on how this thing got started, but it's now in it's 50th year. It's a big outdoor hippie festival with people watching galore. Drum circles, lots of people with their boobs (men and women) out, costumes, TONS of puppies. I pretty much had my head on a swivel the whole time we were there ...

Bubbles. They still get your hands miserably sticky. You don't outgrow that.

Obviously I'm in the background of my pretty friends distracted by puppies. #typical

Ginger Brewing

This weekend the Ginger brewed a big batch of Summery Pale Ale. He hand his brewing buddy added in citrus hops and lots of local honey, which I can't wait to sample. His batches in the past have been a little on the manly (dark, hoppy, pungent) side for me. Pumped!

The backyard aparatus, they're not messing around here, people.

Fresh, fragrant citrus hops.

Sunday Funday

After a long, long walk exploring a new part of Town Lake, we hit our fave Mexican spot (Takoba) for some hot afternoon Micheladas. If you don't know, its a ice cold beer and bloody mary mix. It's absoultely fabulous!

Upon instagramming this photo, it was brought to our attention that the drink looks like a goblet full of chili. YUCK.

Then, I rounded out the weekend with some Game of Thrones and Mad Men cozied up on the couch -- the most delightful TV time of my week recently. It really was a lovely spring weekend! We aren't going to get many more of these before it's really hot as balls in the ATX.

Here's what swirling in my little brainspace today...

1. I'm still overcome with love from my birthday last week.

I honestly was so touched by all my buddies that popped in to party. This week I saw this quote:

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. -- Jane Howard

It really is so true.

2. Mitscoots Socks!

I've blogged about this before, some sweet friends of mine own an awesome sock company. It's a cool buy-one-give-one company here in Austin. Read their whole story here. Anyway, today they're doing free shipping. Find the offer code on Facebook. Get out there and get you some socks and do good stuff! I did!

3. The weather is to die for.

Yesterday the Ginger and I loaded up the pups for a nice little park afternoon. This weekend will be equally as beautiful. Can't wait!

4. The dogs literally spooned.

After the park, my little babies were so pooped they spooned. Not kidding. They just did that all on their own. I kind of freaked at the cuteness. 5,000 pictures might have been taken.

5. 3rd Grade 'Call Me Maybe'

This morning did a little presentation about Peru for my friend's 3rd grade class. The kids were so sweet and cute and seemed genuinely interested in what I was saying. They behaved so well that my friend allowed them to get up and do 'Call Me Maybe' on Just Dance (that's supposedly a video game thing, idk, I'm old). It was so freaking funny. They all knew the song even better than me... and that's sayin' something. They made my week.

Happy Friday! Get out there and shake your booty like a 3rd grade fool at 9am..

Slow blogging week for me, y'all. I've been somewhat busy, but really I just can't think of any stuff. It seems like all of 2013 I've been a little off my game. The good ideas just aren't flowin' lately.

I participate in this on Instagram, so why not in the blogosphere? Am I right?

I thought this was a great Springtime day (weather is freaking GORGE in Austin today) to share this little gemstone:

Welp, where do we start? Questions abound...

First of all, where are those teal chairs? I need them.

Did someone try to steal or take credit for MY plant? Is that why it's so clearly labeled? Those bitches.

What's in my fanny pack? Based on the year this was taken (I'm guessing around 1994ish), I have to assume it's at least two tubes of Lip Smackers, pencils and perhaps a My Little Pony... I carried that crap around for years there in the in early nineties. Whatever it is, it's too precious to be strapped to my hips.

That hat, oh, that hat. I'm proud of myself for keeping the sun off my little face, but come on. This doesn't look like my mother's handiwork, so what was I thinking?

Who am I giving the side-eye to? Probably the plant-stealing buttholes.

Well, that's all the fun for now. Get out there and get your Springtime on, y'alll. But watch out for the plant-stealer bitches.

Today I'm 27!

Can I still be classified as in my "mid twenties"? Or am I officially in "late twenties"?

I think you know what answer I want to hear.

For kicks, here are some interesting "27" things:

The planet Uranus (tee hee) has 27 moons

27 is the atomic number for Cobalt

Florida was the 27th state admitted into the union

There are 27 countries in the European Union

There are 27 bones in the human hand

The movie 27 Dresses is stupid

But let's be real for a second. When did this happen? When did I become an actual, functioning, mid/late twenties grown up person? So since I've had damn Taylor Swift's 22 song in my head for most of 2013, I'm thinking back to when I was that age. Though fun, I don't know if I would trade back to it if I could. There was a ALOT of shit I didn't know then. Like alot. I also wouldn't have guessed that this is what I'd be up to at 27. So, since we're on this existential tangent, what about the next five years? I'm fascinated at the thought.

I already know of some exciting and interesting new twists in store for my 27th year (more on that when I'm ready), so I'm PUMPED. It feels like I'm finally kind of doing some grown up stuff. Weirdly, it feels great.

But, I'm going to start all that tomorrow. If you need me, tonight me and my main beeotches will be the ones doing this:

I'm absolutely LOVING ...

Tomorrow is my birthday!

I have to work and exercise and do my normal crap during the day, but tomorrow night the Ginger and some sweet girlfriends planned me a get-together that I'm PSYCHED about. I can't wait to drink champagne, eat sweet things and dance my buns off. If last year is any indication...

...the buns will be danced off. YAY!

This weekend I'm going to Birmingham!

The ginger and I are jet-setting Friday to his hometown for a wedding shower for these cuties:

First of all, I'm great at wedding showers. I've had a lot of practice. Secondly, friends from all over the place will be descending on B'ham to celebrate. Let's hope for a speedy birthday recovery...

Soup.

Yes, strange topic change, but yes I'm serious. Lately I've been searching for some new lunch options. I get burnt out on my same old salad or sandwich options. So, last week I was totally out of food (and money) and had a can of soup in the back of my pantry and just gobbled it down. It kept me full all afternoon and was an under 300 hundred calorie meal! Don't mind if I do. So, now I'm on a weird soup binge. This is my fave:

Game of Thrones is BACK!

Not "winter is coming"... WINTER IS HERE, BITCHES! I've only ever watched GOT in the off season on HBO GO, so this is my first time to be hip with the times. The season 3 premier was Sunday and it was freaking pheee-NOM. My favorite thing about it? Duh:

More Khaleesi! More Khaleesi!

Taylor Swift

Now, this is a complicated topic for me. I hate her little poptart attitude in the media and her starlet promiscuity serial dating, but I just cannot get enough of her recent jams. I feel guilty about it, but I'm officially addicted to these:

... even right now, I just had a serious Jam sesh alone in my room. I just can't help it. Damn you, Taylor.

The Show Malbec

I found a new wine (or really, rediscovered it), and LOVE:

I'm a sucker for Malbecs, always have been. This one I think is pretty tasty, and obviously affordable. I'm a bottom-shelf type of wine drinker and this one gets my thumbs up. Also its Texasy and cute. Duh.

The Gargoyle Prince

The poor little baby got a fresh new haircut and they might have cut him a little short:

He looks like a skinny gargoryle. That cranky face is his distaste for the current thunderstorm. Love him anyway, but he's got to be humiliated, right?

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, letting two opposing edges hang over at least an inch or so. Grease the foil with cooking spray.

For the crust, process the animal crackers, sugar and salt together to fine crumbs in a blender or food processor. Drizzle the melted butter over the crumbs and pulse to incorporate. Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into an even layer. Bake the crust until fragrant and golden, about 15-18 minutes.

BTW, Animal Cracker Crust was WONDERFUL. If you can find them and food process them, I highly recommend replacing any graham cracker crust with this.

For the filling, while crust bakes, in a medium bowl, stir the cream cheese, lime zest and salt together until combined. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Whisk in the egg yolk and lime juice until combined. Pour the filling evenly over the crust.

Thank goodness I was in my mom's fancy kitchen to use her electric juicer. Otherwise all the zesting/juicing would have taken like 2 hours.

Bake the bars until the filling is set and the edges just slightly begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, 15-17 minutes. Let the bars cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Then cover the pan with foil and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil overhang and cut into squares.

I didn't even get a photo of the final result -- they were gobbled up too quickly, and I tend to space out and want to stuff my face -- but they were so amazeballs. They really are just a little twist on your traditional lemon bar. Loved them!